The Green Bay Packers have their next defensive coordinator — Jonathan Gannon.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Sunday morning the Packers are hiring Gannon to fill their open defensive coordinator role. Previous Packers DC Jeff Hafley left this offseason to become the Miami Dolphins head coach.
Gannon spent the past three seasons as the Arizona Cardinals head coach. The Cardinals posted a 15-36 record with Gannon at the helm.
Prior to that, Gannon was the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator for two seasons under Nick Sirianni from 2021-22. In his second season, the Eagles finished second in the NFL in yards allowed on their way to a Super Bowl appearance.
With Hafley last season, the Packers finished 11th in points allowed and 12th in yards yielded during 2025.
Packers Hiring Jonathan Gannon as Next DC: Report
Gannon didn’t have much success as a head coach with the Cardinals. But in Gannon, the Packers are landing one of the top defensive coordinators available on the market this offseason.
Gannon began his coaching career at 20 years old as a student assistant at the University of Louisville. He coached four seasons at Louisville before making the jump to the NFL after college in 2007.
From 2007-13, Gannon filled a variety of roles from defensive quality control to professional scout while with the Atlanta Falcons, the then St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans.
In 2014, Gannon became the assistant defensive backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings. He spent four years on the Vikings staff under defensive head coach Mike Zimmer.
During Gannon’s final season, the Vikings allowed the fewest passing touchdowns in the league. Minnesota was also first in yards and points yielded and finished in the top 10 in several other statistical categories.
In 2018, Gannon joined the Indianapolis Colts coaching staff as a cornerbacks coach under Frank Reich. Sirianni, who was the future Eagles head coach, was also on the Colts staff from 2018-20.
Gannon followed Sirianni to Philadelphia to become the Eagles defensive coordinator in 2021.
Gannon’s Record as DC With Eagles
Gannon struggled with the Cardinals when the team didn’t have quarterback Kyler Murray available.
Getting into a sideline altercation with one of his own players in Week 5 might be the longest-lasting image of Gannon as Cardinals head coach. Arizona running back Emari Demercado dropped the football just before crossing the goal line in the fourth quarter against the Titans, which nullified a 72-yard touchdown. The Cardinals went on to lose the game.
Video on social media showed Gannon getting in Demercado’s face and making contact with the running back’s arm. The Cardinals fined Gannon $100,000 for the incident.
As a defensive coordinator, though, Gannon has a short but strong track record. In addition to second in yards allowed, the Eagles were eighth in points allowed and fifth in takeaways during 2022.
Gannon’s Cardinals were seventh in pass defense last season. They struggled against the run, though, finishing 25th in rushing yards allowed and 24th in yards per carry yielded.
Hafley was the Packers defensive coordinator for two years under Matt LaFleur. Green Bay’s defense started the 2025 season strongly but injuries contributed to the team finishing the campaign on a five-game losing streak, including the playoffs.
In 2024, the Packers were fifth in yards allowed, sixth in points yielded and fourth in takeaways.
Packers Make Final Call on Next DC to Replace Jeff Hafley: Report